storage systems, one-stop services for intelligent
electricity use, and demand response. However,
they are not yet mature, and their profitability is
weak, slowing down their commercialisation.
(2) Suggestions
First, government should lead smart grid innovation. Plans should be made to motivate power
utilities, equipment manufacturers, users and
other market players to collaborate on smart grid
development and achieve win-win results.
Finance and taxation, science and technology,
and the support policies necessary to create the
smart grid should be researched and implemented. A scientific electricity pricing system
that reflects key aspects of the power market
should be established, including ancillary services like frequency regulation and peak shaving.
International communication and cooperation
should be strengthened to help smart grid technologies, equipment and standards go global.
Second, R&D of key smart grid technologies
should be improved. Attention should be paid to
big data, cloud computing, the Internet of things,
mobile Internet, artificial intelligence and other
new technologies. Investment in scientific
research should be made at an early stage to
encourage innovation. New theories, methods
and technologies should be explored. A complete
and open system of domestic smart grid technical
standards should be drawn up. International
cooperation on smart grid standards should be
bolstered, and businesses and research institutions encouraged to participate in defining a body
of international smart grid standards.
Third, smart grid business models should be
created. The decisive role of the market in
resource allocation should be brought into full
play, and industry alliances should be established
to facilitate development of consistent technology and product standards. Smart grid development and operation should benefit businesses and
users to drive innovation and change in the
power services industry. Technologies and
approaches that combine the Internet and energy
should be explored to facilitate innovation in
smart grid business models.
6.2 New Energy Technologies
6.2.1 Developments in, and Outlook for,
New Energy Technologies
(1) New energy technologies
There is no single definition of new energy at
present. Generally, new energy refers to the new
energy sources and technologies that differentiate
it from conventional (old) energy. Broadly
speaking, new energy means new sources and
technologies, including those for energy development, conversion, use and support. In a narrow
sense, new energy refers to sources only,
including non-hydro renewables, unconventional
and future energy. For the purpose of this report,
new energy refers to the latter, especially
non-hydro renewable energy.
Non-hydro renewable energy includes solar,
wind, biomass, geothermal and marine energy.
Power generation is the principal way to use
non-hydro renewable energy. Non-hydro renewables can be used by consumers after conversion
into power. Global installed capacity of
non-hydro renewable energy is increasing in step
with technical progress.
Wind power: Wind can be divided into
onshore and offshore generation. Onshore wind
turbine manufacturing technologies have already
matured. As onshore wind has reached saturation
point in some European countries, wind power
generation has moved gradually from onshore to
offshore, and from offshore to deep water. Wind
energy is now the most mature (technically) and
promising (in terms of large-scale development
and commercialisation) new energy.
Solar power: Solar can be divided into solar
heating and solar power generation. Solar water
heating and solar photovoltaic (PV) power generation are the most mature technologies at present. Solar PV converts sunlight directly into
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electricity use, and demand response. However,
they are not yet mature, and their profitability is
weak, slowing down their commercialisation.
(2) Suggestions
First, government should lead smart grid innovation. Plans should be made to motivate power
utilities, equipment manufacturers, users and
other market players to collaborate on smart grid
development and achieve win-win results.
Finance and taxation, science and technology,
and the support policies necessary to create the
smart grid should be researched and implemented. A scientific electricity pricing system
that reflects key aspects of the power market
should be established, including ancillary services like frequency regulation and peak shaving.
International communication and cooperation
should be strengthened to help smart grid technologies, equipment and standards go global.
Second, R&D of key smart grid technologies
should be improved. Attention should be paid to
big data, cloud computing, the Internet of things,
mobile Internet, artificial intelligence and other
new technologies. Investment in scientific
research should be made at an early stage to
encourage innovation. New theories, methods
and technologies should be explored. A complete
and open system of domestic smart grid technical
standards should be drawn up. International
cooperation on smart grid standards should be
bolstered, and businesses and research institutions encouraged to participate in defining a body
of international smart grid standards.
Third, smart grid business models should be
created. The decisive role of the market in
resource allocation should be brought into full
play, and industry alliances should be established
to facilitate development of consistent technology and product standards. Smart grid development and operation should benefit businesses and
users to drive innovation and change in the
power services industry. Technologies and
approaches that combine the Internet and energy
should be explored to facilitate innovation in
smart grid business models.
6.2 New Energy Technologies
6.2.1 Developments in, and Outlook for,
New Energy Technologies
(1) New energy technologies
There is no single definition of new energy at
present. Generally, new energy refers to the new
energy sources and technologies that differentiate
it from conventional (old) energy. Broadly
speaking, new energy means new sources and
technologies, including those for energy development, conversion, use and support. In a narrow
sense, new energy refers to sources only,
including non-hydro renewables, unconventional
and future energy. For the purpose of this report,
new energy refers to the latter, especially
non-hydro renewable energy.
Non-hydro renewable energy includes solar,
wind, biomass, geothermal and marine energy.
Power generation is the principal way to use
non-hydro renewable energy. Non-hydro renewables can be used by consumers after conversion
into power. Global installed capacity of
non-hydro renewable energy is increasing in step
with technical progress.
Wind power: Wind can be divided into
onshore and offshore generation. Onshore wind
turbine manufacturing technologies have already
matured. As onshore wind has reached saturation
point in some European countries, wind power
generation has moved gradually from onshore to
offshore, and from offshore to deep water. Wind
energy is now the most mature (technically) and
promising (in terms of large-scale development
and commercialisation) new energy.
Solar power: Solar can be divided into solar
heating and solar power generation. Solar water
heating and solar photovoltaic (PV) power generation are the most mature technologies at present. Solar PV converts sunlight directly into
Special Report 3: A Study of China’s Technology Revolution
339